The college process picks up pace in students’ junior year, beginning with a Countdown to College brunch in September. At the brunch, each girl reviews a copy of her transcript, and counselors discuss topics such as teacher recommendations, college visits, and what questions should be asked on a college tour.
Midyear small group lunches preview the upcoming college classes, which start in the second semester, with getting-to-know-you questionnaires that reveal the nonacademic side of each girl. Classes generate lots of discussions among girls about what to look for in a college, how to write a résumé and use social media platforms in the admission process, and how to craft their personal stories. A college scavenger hunt introduces girls to schools they may not have considered.
The Road to College evening program features a panel of college admissions deans and is open to all students and their parents. During the school day, the deans lead the students in small groups through sample fictional applications, or case studies.
Girls and their parents join with the counselors in individual conferences during the second semester and through the summer. Here they start to develop their college lists, are encouraged to go on college tours, and have discussions about financial aid and scholarships.